The now two-time reigning Evergreen Premier League champion Spokane Shadow finished off another fantastic season Saturday night in their Season Finale and Championship Celebration with a bang, using a first-half hat-trick from Adam Talley to soar past the visiting Olympic Force in a 5-1 win prior to enjoying the post-game awards presentations they locked up the week prior on the road. MORE [+]

The SSC Shadow Girls U17 were crowned State Cup Champions after shutting out PacNW G97 Maroon 2-0 in the finals. This achievement speaks to the commitment, sacrifice, and mental strength of a group of girls who embody the competitive spirit that SSC Shadow teams possess.

The girls, coached by Kevin Moon, peaked in the knockout rounds as they won 4-1 in the semi-final over FC Alliance before prevailing in the final. The girls scored 21 goals while conceding eight throughout the tourament.

Alex Chambers scored the first goal on the free kick (seen here, along with a third goal that was disallowed) and added a second as the Shadow booked their trip to the Region IV Championships.

SSC Shadow GU17 will compete in the Region IV Championships in Boise, Idaho, beginning one June 22.

Tournament Best XI

Alex Chambers

SSC Shadow G97-A

Morgan Crosby

SSC Shadow G97-A

Larkin Russell

SSC Shadow G97-A

Maia Angell

SSC Shadow G97-A

Kiera Towell

PacNW G97 Maroon

Cara Scammon

PacNW G97 Maroon

Abigail Kim

PacNW G97 Maroon

Alicia Barker

FC Alliance G97 A

Sophiia Viviano

FC Alliance G97 A

Natalie Clark

Seattle United G97 Copa A

Caroline Hennes

Seattle United G97 Copa A

Additionally, the SSC Shadow GU15 team finished second in President's Cup and had Emma Morse, Sarah Wilson, and Kaelyn Barnes named to the Best XI. The SSC Shadow GU18 team lost in the semi-finals of State Cup and had McKenna Stocker and Jacqueline Hamby named to the Best XI.

SSC Shadow continues to lead the way for top-level soccer in the greater Spokane area and throughout the Western region.

Sounders FC is in the process of building a new partnership with Spokane Shadow Soccer Club, the largest youth soccer organization in Eastern Washington, enabling the club to extend its youth development infrastructure into a strategic in-state locale.

"This makes perfect sense for us," said Seattle Sounders FC Academy Technical Director Marc Nicholls. “We will have a vested interest in the eastern part of the state. We know that there are many good coaches and players in Spokane and we hope that this partnership will help galvanize the soccer community in the area.”

Currently, the Shadow includes around 800 competitive participants and almost 250 recreational participants, and continues to show immense growth. Recently, the Shadow announced a partnership with the Spokane Youth Sports Association, which features over 3,500 recreational soccer participants. Now, by partnering with Sounders FC, the programs will be offered an integrated curriculum and soccer playing philosophy as well as education for the coaches.

“It's an exciting time for soccer and the whole soccer community of Spokane,” said Shadow Technical Director Abbas Faridnia. “The Seattle Sounders are the MLS franchise. Nowhere else in the Unites States is there more excitement, more quality or more professionalism than with the Seattle Sounders.”

The Shadow will become an integral part of the Sounders Academy structure. Furthermore, players who participate on the Shadow’s teams will be eligible to join Sounders FC Academy squads.

For Seattle, this partnership marks another step in strengthening the club’s youth development system. According to General Manager and President of Soccer Garth Lagerwey, vertically integrating the system is a strategic long-term aspiration for the organization.

“In order to have the best Academy, and in conjunction with S2 the best player development pipeline, we must be able to identify the best players, not just in Seattle, but from our entire Homegrown territory,” said Lagerwey. “This relationship in Spokane gives us a new set of eyes and ears to look for talent in an area that has previously been hard for us to reach. We look forward to working with the Shadow to provide opportunities for the best youth players to spur their development with the Sounders.”

This pipeline now extends beyond the Emerald City into Spokane, the second-largest city in the state.

“For the players and coaches of Spokane, to have the unique opportunity of working directly with the top MLS franchise is a revolutionary step for soccer in our community,” Faridnia said. “We are excited by the upward progress for the players and their development in our community."

The 2015-16 SSC Shadow Tournament and Event schedule is also available for our RCL/WCDA teams. Coaching assignments for the 2015-16 year will be announced after spring break along with all tryout dates and times! We look forward to seeing you on the field!

SPOKANE, WA - The SSC Shadow would like to thank the sponsors, participants, and volunteers who helped make our 2nd Annual Auction and Poker Tournament a great success! All of the funds raised from the event will be put toward financial assistance of our players in need. For each of the past three years the SSC Shadow has given $50,000 in financial assistance to members of the club and this years poker tournament and auction helped raise nearly $20,000 to help support this great program!

A very Special THANK YOU goes to board member Kari Moore, office manager Peggy Clark, and volunteer Lori Cunningham for their selfless service to our club in helping the event become and maintain a very special night for our club! Thank you!

Spokane Soccer Club Shadow and Spokane Youth Sports Association are excited to announce a collaboration for Youth Soccer in Spokane.

Bringing together Spokane’s most successful, longest tenured competitive club serving 1000 players each year, and Spokane’s most successful longest tenured recreational organization serving 3700 soccer players each year in the Inland Northwest and the Greater Spokane Area.

Spokane, WA - April 2, 2015 - Committing to making soccer opportunities better for recreational, select and premier youth players in the greater Spokane area, Spokane Soccer Club (SSC) Shadow and Spokane Youth Sports Association (SYSA) have announced they will work together to provide a full service soccer program available to all players in the community. This collaboration will bring the community a clear option for every family to begin playing soccer at the youngest ages and continue through their high school years. Players will be exposed to a variety of coaches along their development pathway and will experience unique player development-centered training opportunities. Coaching education, curriculum and extra training opportunities for recreational players will provide consistent coaching instruction and oversight for locally-competing select level players, and secure greater competition and success in state-wide Regional Club League play at the premier level. Players can begin at U5 SYSA/Shadow soccer and choose to end playing U18 recreational soccer or maybe even play for the Semi-Pro Shadow team.

“What an opportunity for all players at every level in Spokane. Players can choose their pathway, their soccer playing level and be involved in the two leading organizations for Spokane soccer. Working together only provides more opportunity for our community of youth soccer players,” said SSC Shadow Technical Director Abbas Faridnia.

“SYSA is excited to work with SCC Shadow to provide soccer for kids of all ages. The resources that SCC Shadow brings to the recreational players, coaches and leagues are exceptional. Most importantly, this collaboration will make soccer fun for everyone!” said SYSA Executive Director Philip Helean.

Spokane Soccer Club Shadow serves Spokane’s premier and select youth soccer players committed to advancing their skills and love of soccer by striving to achieve the highest standards of training, instruction and competition in an atmosphere of teamwork, respect, and professionalism. Shadow is the only Greater Spokane member of the Regional Club League (RCL) which consists of the top 18 clubs in Washington Youth Soccer (www.washingtonyouthsoccer.org). Visit www.spokanesc.org for information.

The mission of Spokane Youth Sports Association is to provide sports activities for all youth where everyone plays, develops skills, is taught good sportsmanship and learns the value of being a team player. www.sysa.com

SSC Shadow continues to hire exceptional soccer coaches from throughout the region

SSC Shadow is ecstatic and pleased to announce and welcome Michael Pellicio as one of our new Directors. Coach Pellicio comes to us most recently from the Sandpoint Strikers where he served as their Director of Coaching and he is currently the Head Coach for Idaho ODP District 1.

Mike is a San Diego native and grew up playing in the prestigious Cal South leagues as he refined his game as a player. Coach Pellicio continued his soccer at NCAA Division I Santa Clara University.

Mike received his BS in Political Science and History in 2007 from Santa Clara University. Coach Pellicio furthered his education by receiving his Master's in Education from the University of Idaho in 2011.

Coach Mike has been involved in the Cal South Olympic Development Program and Santa Clara Men's Soccer on the coaching side. His experience as the University of Idaho Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach, Assistant Coach of the San Diego City College Men’s Soccer Team, and Camp Director of San Diego State Men’s Soccer is a testament to his well-rounded experience.

Pellicio’s dedication and passion for the game is shown through his accomplishments as a player as well as a coach. He currently holds his United States Soccer Federation “B” License. He was North County Times “Best of the Rest” coach of the year nominee for all San Diego sports.

Technical Director Abbas Faridnia had this to say about Coach Pellicio, “SSC Shadow welcomes Mike to our staff as a director. Mike believes in the SSC Shadow Way, he believes in development of the total soccer player. He is not only a great coach, but a teacher of the beautiful game. The qualities and experiences Mike brings to our staff, and the Spokane area, will be a huge impact for the members of our club. SSC Shadow continues to set the standard of quality coaches and staff for our area.”

His diverse coaching background, coupled with his Master's in Education, is an exceptional addition to our Staff of Directors and we are pleased to welcome him to SSC Shadow!

SSC Shadow is proud to announce that we will be participating in the Amazon Smile program. This is an incredible opportunity for the club as our Financial Assistance program will receive .5% of all sales through the program! Follow the link to register.